Apparatus for preventing sinking of ships and for raising sunken vessels



(N0 Model.)

' I'.KINDT.

APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING SINKING 0F SHIPS AND FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS, &c..

Patented Mar. 31, 1896. v

I a 1W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK KINDT, OF SARATOGA, WYOMING, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO JOHN C. DAVIS, OF RAWVLINS, W'YOMING.

APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING SlNKlNG 0F SHIPS AND FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS, dc.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,396, dated March 31, 1896.

Application filed December 30, 1895. Serial No. 573,760. (No model.)

To a, whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK KINDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Saratoga, in the county of Carbon and State of \Vyoming, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Preventing the Sinking of Ships and other VVater-Oraft and for Raising Sunken Vessels and other Submerged Objects, of which the following is a specification.

1 My invention relates to apparatus for preventing the sinking of ships and other watercraft and for raising sunken vessels and other submerged objects; and it consists in an inflatable gas, air, and water tight bag, of any suitable size and form, to be secured, in any required number, to water-craft or other obj ects, and capable of inflation, (preferably by electrical explosion of gas-generating chemicals contained in a storage-receptacle inclosed by the bag an d communicating therewith,) so as to buoy up a vessel in case of emergencies such as collisions, springing aleak, &c.-and to be available also for raising sunken vessels and other objects. 7

It is more especially the purpose of my invention to provide inflatable buoying apparatus, conveniently arranged for storage aboard a ship, and which will be always ready for speedy and effective use to prevent sinking of the vessel in a sudden emergency, thereby aiding greatly in the saving of life and property at sea.

The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a partly-sectional view of my inflatable buoying apparatus for sustaining, raising, and preventing the sinking of leaky ships, vessels, boats, and other water-craft. Fig. 2 is a partly-sectional view of a receptacle or holder for explosive gas-generating chemicals inclosed in the inflatable buoy or bag and provided with means for electrical ignition.

In carrying my invention into effect, I provide for the attachment to the sides of ships, vessels, boats, or other water-craft a sufficient number of inflatable gas, air, and water tight bags, the capacity and number of which may be suitably porportioned to the size, weight, and tonnage of the vessel, craft, or other obpreferably braced by anetwork of cords 2, se-

cured in any suitable manner.

At a convenient point there is securely fastened in an aperture of the bag material an internally screw-threaded collar 3 of brass, bronze, or other metal.

A steel cable 4 is vulcanized or otherwise secured in the seam of the sack or bag 1, and has its ends fastened to rings 5 on opposite sides of the collar 3, the said cable being ex tended entirely around the bag or sack. On one side of the sack, opposite the collar 3, the cable 4 is extended outward and formed into a ring 6 to afford means for attaching the bag to an object or vessel to be raised in the water or prevented from sinking. A stay or brace rod 7 may be fastened to the projecting portion or arms of the cable between the ring 6 and the bag. Two or more heavy bands or strips 8 of canvas or other suitable material are extended around the bag 1 and vulcanized thereto and are also extended over the cable 4, thus further strengthening the bag or sack and equalizing the pulling or holding power of the cable.

The internally screw-threaded collar 3 is arranged for insertion and secure engagement of a metal screw-plug 9 having a flanged head 10 and a handle 11 by which the plug may be screwed into place. The plug 9 may be fastened to the collar 3 by means of bolts passed through the flange 10, as well as by the screw-threaded engagement of plug and collar, or they may be fastened together by any other suitable means. This plug 9 affords support for one or more metal tubes 12 13 to contain the gas-generating material for use in effecting inflation of the bag or sack. In Fig. 2 I have shown two of these tubes, but any required number may be provided according to the quantity of chemicals to be con- IOC sumed in producing the gas. Where two tubes are provided, as shown, one tube may be longer than the other. Both tubes are closed at the ends which are secured to the plug 9, and their other ends are open for reception of the chemicals to be packed therein and for escape of the gases generated when the tube contents are ignited or exploded. The tubes 12 and 13 may be of any size or capacity required. To the end of the longer tube 12 is fastened a metal hood 14 to protect the bag 1 from any flame issuing from the tubes, the said hood being suiliciently wide to extend across both tubes. As a means for attaching the hood 14 it is provided with two spring-arms 15 detachablysecured to the tube 12 by pins 16 or otherwise.

In the metal plug 9 is a rubber insulatingplug 17 for passage of electric wires 18 that extend outside the tube 12 and connect with a cartridge 19 in the open end of said tube, the cartridge being charged with powder-dust, into which maybe inserted a section of platinum wire, in connection with the wires 18, for giving a spark to ignite the contents of the tube. An asbestos-covered fuse 20 is conneeted with the contents of tube 12 near its closed end and is extended thence to the contents of the tube 13 at a point near the open end of said tube. If additional tubes are employed for storage of a larger quantity of gasproducing material, the several tubes will be connected by fuses in like manner, so that the contents of the tubes may be ignited or exploded in succession, and not all at once.

In the plug 0 and communicating with the interior of the bag 1 is a safety-valve 21, to prevent an undue accumulation of pressure from the gases generated within the bag.

The tubes 12 13 being charged with chemicals or a chemical compound capable of generating a sufficiency of light buoyant gas on ignition or explosion, and the several described attachments having been properly adju'sted, the plug 9 and attached part-s will be securely inserted in the collar 3 of the bag 1, and the latter will then be placed in position and the Wires 18 connected with a battery or source of electricity.

When the bag 1 is fastened to an object under water or to a vessel in danger of sinking, an electric current may be supplied through the wires or conductors 18 to ignite or explode the gas-producing contents of the tube or tubes. As soon as the contents of the tube 12 are nearly consumed the fuse 20 will fire the contents of tube 13, and so 011 if other similar tubes are provided. The gas thus generated will inflate the bag and buoy up any object to which it is secured. It is intended to so fasten the bags to a ship that they will be out of the way and not interfere with the navigation of the vessel. If a ship is run into, stove in, or springs aleak and is about to sink, the battery may be worked, the bags inflated almost instantly, and the vessel be thereby held afloat. The bags or sacks are to be made any dimensions deemed necessary and may be employed in any required number attached to the sides or interior of a ship in the most convenient or desirable position. If desired, the safety-valve 21 can be removed and a pipe be screwed on in its place as a means for reinflating the sack, if found necessary, without detaching it from the object to which it is fastened.

By use of the inflatable bags and their gasgenerating attachments sunken ships an d any submerged objects may be raised to the surface, and they may be used at a moments notice in case of accident to prevent the sinking of water-craft.

The gas-generating material that I prefer to employ for inflating the bag is composed of blasting-powder, three parts, and coal-oil, one part; but other suitable gas-generating compounds may be used. The blasting-pow der may contain saltpeter, 74-.83 parts, charcoal, 13.31 parts, and sulfur, 11.86 parts, or thereabout.

In the construction of the inflatable bag 1 any required number of steel cables may be employed, each extended around the bag and vulcanized into the bag-seams, as already described with reference to the steel cable 4 shown in the drawings.

IV hat I claim as my invention is 1; In apparatus to raise sunken vessels and prevent the sinking of ships, the combination of an inflatable gas-tight and water-tight bag adapted to be secured to water-craft or submerged objeets, a holder supplied with combustible gas-producing material and removably held within said bag, a cartridge in said holder, and electrical devices connected with said holder for igniting the said cartridge and gas-producing material, to inflate the bag, substantially as described.

2. In apparatus to raise sunken vessels and prevent the sinking of ships, the combination of an inflatable gas-tight and water-tight bag adapted to be fastened to water-craft or submerged objeets, a collar secured in an aperture in one part of said bag, a plug detachably held in said collar and carrying on its inner side a tube supplied with combustible gas-producing material, a cartridge in said tube, electric wires connected with said cartridge, and a hood for the open end of said tube, substantially as described.

In apparatus to raise sunken vessels and prevent the sinking of ships, the combination of an inflatable gas and water tight bag, a steel cable surrounding said bag and vulcanized in a seam thereof to serve as a means for strengthening the bag and attaching it to water-craft or submerged objects, a holder for combustible gas-producing material removably inclosed in said bag, electrical devices for exploding or igniting said material, and means for protecting the interior of the bag from flame and sparks, substantially as described.

4. In apparatus to raise sunken vessels and ITO prevent the sinking of ships, the combination of an inflatable gas-tight and Water-tight bag adapted to be secured to Water-craftcor submerged objects, a collar fastened in an aperture in one part of said bag, a plug detachably secured in said collar and provided with a safety-valve, tubes secured to the inner side of said plug to contain a gas-producing material and each communicating at one end with the interior of the bag, a cartridge in the open end of one of said tubes, electric Wires connecting with said cartridge, a fuse extended from the material in the closed end of I one tube to the material in or near the open end of the other tube, and a hood for the open 15 ends of said tubes, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' FREDERICK KINDT.

WVitnesses:

JAMES J. HOPKINS, WILLIAM A. HEATH. 

